Ornamental Grasses

Ornamental grasses are super easy to grow. Just plant them in a sunny spot, give them some water, and watch them do their thing. They’re pretty tough and can handle different types of soil, so that’s a big plus.

A Large Ornamental Grass Sedge Bush

One thing I absolutely adore about ornamental grasses is how they sway in the breeze. It’s like a little dance party happening right in my yard! They bring movement and life to my garden, and it’s oh-so-pleasant to watch them rustle in the wind. It’s like nature’s own little show.

Another great thing about these grasses is how versatile they are. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors. You can choose from tall ones that make a statement or short ones that add a bit of texture. And with different shades like green, blue, white, yellow, and even some sassy reds, you can mix and match to create a stunning display.

Fountain Grass

But their real superstar moment happens when it gets cold. These grasses don’t wimp out when winter rolls around. Nope, they stay standing tall and keep their beautiful colors intact, providing interest and structure to the garden when everything else seems to be snoozing. It’s like having a little winter wonderland right outside your door.

You can combine grasses with flowers to create some beautiful combinations. The soft and feathery plumes of grasses provide a wonderful backdrop to the vibrant colors of flowers, creating a balanced display.

Ornamental Grass and Flowers Together

As another example, a tall ornamental grass like maiden grass could be paired with bright purple coneflowers or delicate pink astilbes, to create a striking contrast in height and texture.

Oh, and did I mention that ornamental grasses are low maintenance? Yeah, that’s right. Once they settle in, they pretty much take care of themselves. You don’t need to prune ’em or fuss over ’em too much. Just let ’em be, and they’ll reward you with their natural beauty year after year.

Ornamental Grass Hedge
Whoever thought grasses couldn’t be amazing on their own never thought to make a border in the middle of nowhere with them.

So, if you’re looking to spruce up your garden with some easy-to-grow, eye-catching plants, give ornamental grasses a try. They’re like the secret sauce that adds that special flavor to your outdoor space. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. Happy gardening, y’all!

Purple Phlox

I love phlox flowers because they are simply fantastic! I love how they make the perfect ground cover, transforming dull spaces into vibrant floral carpets. Here’s why phlox flowers are so amazing:

Purple Phlox

Phlox is a versatile and lovely perennial that spreads effortlessly, making it a fantastic choice for ground cover. Once well-established, they create a lush blanket of vibrant, fragrant blooms that will have your garden bursting with color.

Phlox flowers come in various shades, from delicate pastels to vibrant pinks, purples, and whites. You can mix and match different varieties to create a beautiful mix of colors or stick to a single color for a more calming effect.

The best part is that phlox is relatively low-maintenance. They are very hardy and can tolerate a range of growing conditions. Plant them in well-drained soil and give them plenty of sunlight. With proper care, they will reward you with waves of blossoms throughout the summer months.

Phlox also attracts pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds, adding an extra touch of natural beauty to your garden. I love to watch them flit and flutter from blossom to blossom. It really brings my garden to life.

So, whether you want to fill up a sunny spot in your garden or add a burst of color to a drab area, phlox flowers are the perfect solution. They make excellent ground cover, offer a good variety of colors, are low-maintenance, and attract pollinators. It’s no wonder I adore phlox flowers so much, and I’m sure you will too!

Climbing Red Roses

I gotta say, I’m a huge fan of climbing red roses. There’s just something about them that screams elegance and sophistication.
I mean, who wouldn’t want to have a garden full of these beauties? It’s like having your own personal rose-covered fortress.

Climbing Red Roses

But it’s not just about the looks, let me tell you. These roses are tough as nails. They can withstand harsh weather conditions and still come out looking like a million bucks.

And let’s not forget about the scent. It’s like a sweet, floral perfume that fills the air and makes you feel like you’re in a romantic movie.

Climbing roses produce vibrant red blooms and have the ability to grow vertically, by clinging onto structures such as trellises, fences, or walls. These roses are admired for their ability to create a stunning display of color and add a touch of elegance to any garden or landscape.

Here are some key characteristics and information about climbing red roses:

  1. Growth habits: Climbing roses are vigorous plants that have long, flexible canes. Unlike traditional shrub roses, they are more inclined to grow in a vertical manner, reaching heights of 8 to 20 feet (2.4 to 6 meters) or even more depending on the specific variety.
  2. Blooms: Climbing red roses are known for their beautiful red flowers, which can vary in size and shape depending on the cultivar. The blooms may be single, semi-double, or fully double, and they often have a delightful fragrance. The blossoms typically appear in clusters or large sprays, creating a visually striking effect.
  3. Care and maintenance: Climbing roses require some care and maintenance to thrive. They need a sunny location with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Regular watering, especially during dry periods, is important to keep the plants healthy. Pruning is also necessary to maintain their shape, remove dead or diseased wood, and encourage new growth. It’s generally recommended to prune climbing roses during late winter or early spring.
  4. Support structures: As climbing roses grow, they need support structures to help them climb. This can include trellises, arbors, fences, or walls. The roses have thorns or small prickles on their stems, which aid in clinging onto these structures. It’s important to provide sturdy support to accommodate the growth and weight of the rose canes.
  5. Versatility: Climbing roses can be used in various ways to enhance your garden. They can be trained to climb up walls, fences, or pergolas, creating a stunning vertical display. They can also be grown along garden pathways or used to cover unsightly structures. Additionally, climbing roses can be trained into standards or grown as free-standing shrubs, offering flexibility in garden design.
  6. Popular climbing rose varieties: There are numerous varieties of climbing red roses available, each with its own unique characteristics. Some popular choices include ‘Don Juan,’ ‘Blaze,’ ‘Crimson Glory,’ and ‘Altissimo.’ It’s advisable to research specific varieties and their growth habits to choose the one that best suits your preferences and gardening conditions.

Red Roses

Climbing red roses are beloved for their striking beauty and ability to transform any garden or landscape into a romantic haven. Their vertical growth habit and vibrant red blooms make them a favorite choice for gardeners seeking a visually captivating and fragrant addition to their outdoor spaces.

So yeah, I’m definitely adding climbing red roses to my garden. It’s a no-brainer.

Dandelions: More than Just A Weed

Few plants are as ubiquitous as the dandelion. Found in every continent except Antarctica, this hardy little plant has long been a source of food and medicine. In recent years, however, the dandelion has been buffeted by changing attitudes. Once considered a weed, it is now viewed as a valuable resource, with a potential to revolutionize the food and beverage industry. So pull up a chair and pour yourself a cup of dandelion tea – it’s time to learn more about this fascinating plant.

Yellow Dandelions

What are Dandelions and What Do They Look Like?

Dandelions are flowering plants in the Asteraceae family. They are native to Europe, Asia, and North America, and they have been introduced to many other parts of the world. The most distinctive feature of dandelions is their bright yellow flowers. The flowers are surrounded by a ring of green sepals, and they are followed by round, fluffy seed heads. Dandelions are very hardy plants, and they can often be found growing in lawns, meadows, and wastelands. When the seed heads mature, they detach from the plant and float away on the wind, spreading the dandelion’s pollen far and wide.

What are the Benefits of Dandelions?

While most people consider dandelions to be nothing more than pesky weeds, they actually have a number of benefits. For one, they are a source of food for a variety of animals, including bees, butterflies, and birds. Dandelions can also be used to make a variety of herbal remedies for humans. They are packed with nutrients, including vitamins A, B, C, and K, as well as iron and calcium. In addition, dandelions have been used medicinally for centuries to treat liver and digestive problems. Today, dandelion root is even being studied as a potential treatment for cancer.

One of the most important benefits of dandelions is that they help to replenish the soil with nutrients. Dandelions have a deep taproot that helps to break up compacted soil, and their leaves are rich in nitrogen and other minerals. As the dandelions go to seed, they also deposit a large amount of pollen, which is an important food source for bees and other pollinators. Additionally, dandelions are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, providing an early source of nectar for hungry bees. In this way, dandelions play an important role in supporting a healthy ecosystem.

Bee Feeding on Dandelion Nectar

So the next time you come across a dandelion in your yard, take a moment to appreciate its many benefits.

How to Harvest and Use Dandelions

Dandelions are one of the most common “weeds” in North America, but they can also be a valuable herbal remedy. The entire plant is edible, and dandelion leaves can be used to add a bit of bitterness to salads or cooked greens. Dandelion flowers can be used to make a variety of beverages, like coffee, tea, and even wine. The flower heads can be fermented with sugar and water to produce a sweet, slightly sparkling wine. The roots can be roasted and ground into a coffee substitute. In addition, dandelion extract is often used as a natural diuretic and liver tonic.

Dandelion Tea

To harvest dandelions, simply pull up the entire plant, roots and all. Rinse the dirt off the roots, then chop them into small pieces. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and the flowers can be steeped in boiling water to make tea. Dandelion root can also be roasted and ground, or boiled and simmered to make a syrup. Whatever way you choose to use them, dandelions can add both flavor and nutrition to your diet.

Recipes that Include Dandelion Greens

Dandelion greens are a nutritional powerhouse, and they can be used in a variety of recipes. For example, dandelion greens can be sautéed with garlic and olive oil for a simple side dish, or they can be added to soups and stews for extra flavor and nutrition. Dandelion greens are also a healthy addition to smoothies and salads. Use them in place of spinach in recipes like lasagna or spanakopita.

When cooked, they have a similar texture to spinach or Swiss chard, and a slightly bitter taste that is similar to arugula or endive.

When shopping for dandelion greens, look for fresh, crisp leaves that are deep green in color and free from blemishes. Avoid dandelion greens that have yellowed or withered leaves, as these may indicate that the greens are past their prime, and will be tough and bitter. They can usually be found in the produce section of most grocery stores. To ensure the freshest dandelion greens possible, try to buy them from a local farmers market.

Dandelion Greens with Garlic

Check out this recipe for Dandelion Greens with Garlic

To clean the greens, simply rinse them under cold water. If the greens are particularly sandy, you may want to soak them in a bowl of water for a few minutes before cooking.

When cooking dandelion greens, it is important to not overcook them, as this will make them tough and difficult to chew. Instead, cook them for just a few minutes so that they retain their nutrient-rich properties.

With a little creativity, dandelion greens can be a delicious and healthy way to add some extra nutrition to your meals. And there are many delicious recipes that include dandelion greens, so be sure to try one today!

Dandelion Crafts

Dandelions are more than just weeds – they can also be used to make a variety of beautiful and unique crafts! While most people think of them as pesky plants that need to be removed from their yards, dandelions can actually be used to create everything from jewelry to home décor.

For example, dandelion seeds can be used to make earrings and necklaces, while the flowers can be used to make colorful headbands and bracelets, wreaths and garlands. The bright yellow petals can be used to decorate cards or scrapbooks, and the flowers can even be pressed and made into jewelry. Dandelion heads can also be dried and used to fill decorative vases or bowls.

Dandelion Headband

Dandelions can also be used to make natural dyes. The flowers can be steeped in hot water to produce a yellow dye, or the leaves can be boiled to create a green dye. These dyes can be used to color fabric, paper, or even Easter eggs.

So the next time you see a dandelion, don’t reach for the weed killer – reach for some glue and scissors instead! With a little imagination, you can turn these humble plants into one-of-a-kind works of art.

Dandelion Folklore and Mythology

The dandelion is a plant with a long history, and it has been the subject of many stories and legends over the years.

In folklore, dandelions are sometimes known as “wish flowers,” as it is said that if you blow on a dandelion puffball, your wishes will come true.

The dandelion’s name is thought to come from the French dent de lion, or “lion’s tooth”, and it was once believed that picking a dandelion would result in being bitten by a lion. A less frightening explanation is that “lion’s tooth,” is a reference to the plant’s jagged leaves.

Field of Dandelions

In other parts of Europe, the plant was associated with witches, and it was said that if you placed a dandelion under your pillow, you would dream of the witch who would cast a spell on you.

In China, meanwhile, the dandelion is considered to be a symbol of good luck, and it is often given as a gift to new mothers.

Whether considered to be lucky or unlucky, there is no doubt that the dandelion has had a fascinating impact on human culture.

In Closing

The dandelion is a plant with a long and interesting history. It has been used for food, medicine, and even crafts over the years, and it continues to be an important part of many cultures around the world. So the next time you see a dandelion, take a moment to appreciate this humble plant – you may be surprised by how much it has to offer!

What Is Regenerative Gardening And How Does It Work 

biodiverse regenerative garden

Last year, I decided to try my hand at regenerative gardening. I had read about the benefits of this type of gardening and was curious to see if it would make a difference in my garden. Regenerative gardening is a type of sustainable gardening that focuses on rebuilding soils and restoring ecosystems. It involves using techniques such as composting, mulching, and cover crops to improve the health of the soil. I was surprised at how quickly I saw results. My plants were healthier and more productive, and I noticed an increase in biodiversity in my garden. I also found that I didn’t need to use as many pesticides or herbicides. Overall, I was very pleased with the results of regenerative gardening and would recommend it to anyone interested in sustainable gardening.

Why Should You Consider Using Regenerative Gardening In Your Own Garden

There are many benefits to using regenerative gardening methods in your own garden.

  • First, these methods can help to reduce your reliance on external inputs such as fertilizer and irrigation water.
  • Second, they can help to improve the health of your soil, leading to healthier plants.
  • Third, regenerative gardening practices can help to create a more diverse and resilient ecosystem in your garden, making it better able to withstand environmental stresses.

How To Get Started With Regenerative Gardening

Making your garden more sustainable doesn’t have to be difficult. There are a number of easy things you can do to reduce your impact on the environment.

Access The Soil

The first step is to assess your soil. This will give you an idea of what amendments you may need to add to improve drainage, aeration, and nutrient levels.

Consider Your Climate

It’s also important to consider the climate in your area and choose plants that are well-suited to the conditions.

Use Compost

Next, you’ll want to start using compost in your garden. Compost is rich in nutrients and helps to improve the structure of the soil. You can make your own compost by collecting kitchen scraps and leaves, or you can purchase it from a garden center.

Compost from Food Scraps

Mulch Your Garden Beds

Consider mulching your garden beds. Mulch helps to protect the soil from erosion and helps to retain moisture. It also provides a valuable food source for insects and other creatures that help to break down organic matter.

Try Companion Planting

Companion planting is a method of growing plants next to each other that benefits both species. For example, beans provide nitrogen to help feed other plants, while pest-repelling plants can help protect vulnerable crops.

Tips For Making Your Garden More Sustainable

When it comes to gardens, sustainability is important. A sustainable garden is one that uses resources in an efficient way and doesn’t damage the environment. There are a number of ways you can make your garden more sustainable. Here are some tips:

Use Native Plants

Native plants are those that naturally occur in your area. They’re adapted to the local climate and don’t require a lot of water or other resources to thrive. Using native plants in your garden can help reduce your impact on the environment.

Use Organic Methods

Another way to make your garden more sustainable is to use organic methods. This means avoiding the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Instead, opt for natural alternatives like compost or mulch. Not only are organic methods better for the environment, but they can also be better for your plants.

Reduce Your Lawn Size

Lawns are notoriously wasteful when it comes to water and other resources. If you want to make your garden more sustainable, consider reducing the size of your lawn or even eliminating it entirely. You can replace it with drought-tolerant plants or create a more natural landscape with native vegetation.

Collect Rainwater

Rainwater is an excellent source of water for your garden. Instead of letting it run off, collect it in a rain barrel or other container and use it to water your plants. This will save you money on your water bill and help reduce strain on local water supplies.

Collecting Water in a Rain Barrel

By following these tips, you can make your garden more sustainable and help protect the environment.

The practice of regenerative gardening has been gaining popularity in recent years as more and more gardeners become interested in sustainable gardening practices. Regenerative gardening is based on the principles of regeneration, which is the process of renewing and revitalizing something. In the context of gardening, this means creating a garden that is self-sustaining and capable of regenerating itself.

Repurposing A Tree Stump

I saw this really cute trump stump, turned into a planter, on Facebook. It made me think about all the ways you could dress up an old tree stump.

Tree Stump Planter

Make A Planter

One of the best ways to repurpose a tree stump is to turn it into a planter. This would be a great option if you have an old tree stump in your yard that you want to get rid of. To do this, you would simply drill a few holes into the top of the stump and fill it with soil. Or, if the tree stump is already rotted out in the center, you can fill it right away, without any drilling. Then, you can plant flowers, herbs, or vegetables in the stump. The Shingled House has some nice instructions on drilling out a tree stump to become a planter.

Carve A Tree Stump

Another option for repurposing a tree stump would be to use it as a piece of garden art. If you have the talent, you could carve the stump into a sculpture or paint it with bright colors. This would be a great way to add personality to your garden and make it truly unique.

Carved Tree Stump

Image from: https://imgur.com/gallery/HCOjTeS

You would need some serious talent and skill to carve something like this owl tree stump. It was carved with a chainsaw!

Owl Carved from Tree Stump

Image from: https://www.shaungilbert.uk/galleries/owls/owls-6d-chainsaw-carved-owl-sculpture/

Make Furniture

If you have a large tree stump, you could also use it as a piece of outdoor furniture. For example, you could even off the top, and add a piece of glass or wood, and turn it into a coffee table or an end table. Or, you could use it as a seat by adding a cushion to the top.

Tree Stump Repurposed Into a Table

Image from: https://agreenhand.com/tree-stump-ideas/

A Tree Stump Fairy Garden

Another option for repurposing a tree stump is to create a fairy garden. This is a great project for kids or adults who want to add a touch of magic to their yard. There are several ways to use your stump for a fairy garden. One is to simply hollow out the center of the stump and fill it with soil. Then, you can plant flowers, herbs, or vegetables inside the stump or around the perimeter of the stump. In the center of the stump, you can place a statue of a fairy or a gnome, or other decorations to create a magical scene.

You could also carve or add a front door and windows to the stump, making it a magical fairy house for your yard. You can find plenty of door and window kits, and other fairy house adornments on Amazon and other gardening websites.

Tree Stump Fairy House

Image from: themagiconions.com

As you can see, there are many different ways that you can repurpose a tree stump. So, if you have an old stump in your yard, don’t be afraid to get creative and turn it into something new.

Gardening Gone Wild

Bird overlooking Wildflowers

What is Rewilding?

Rewilding is a technique that people adopt to restore their garden or lawn to being as close as possible to the way nature would have it. Rewilding entails tending your garden in such a way that it can support both animal and insect life. It may include relinquishing much of the customary gardening management and refraining from harming the soil. This rewilding of your garden can be seen as a way to re-introducing the ecology of an area.

The techniques of rewilding can be used in any garden or lawn, and there are many benefits from rewilding them such as: re-establishing natural ecosystems; providing sustainable landscapes capable of adapting to climate change; supporting native biodiversity; reducing run-off and soil erosion; increasing carbon storage and filtering pollutants out of water.

Rewilding may include re-fertilizing depleted soils, managing for effects such as pest control and erosion reduction, and reforesting areas where trees have been removed.

Rewilding a garden may also improve the aesthetics of your space while also allowing you to feel more connected to the natural world.

A Natural Ecosystem

Rewilding your garden should be seen as re-introducing the ecology of where your garden is situated. You can rewild by planting native flowers and vegetables that are not only attractive to animals but also beneficial for them to eat. By doing this, you will be providing food sources for animals, such as birds and bees, while protecting your plants at the same time.

Wild Flowers

Native plants provide shelter for winged creatures, like butterflies and moths, who fly around fertilizing other flowers along with their host plant; this activity provides nectar for honeybees, which benefits both bee and man alike. Wildflowers and organic vegetables provide food for many different types of birds and insects.

Rewilding The Soil

It is important to rewild your soil in order to rewild your garden. You will want to add organic compost, such as rotted leaves and grass clippings, or animal manure, into the soil. These will add valuable nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium which plants need in order to survive.

Rewilding gardens re-introduces healthy bacteria back into the soil while protecting it from future damage like erosion or runoff (like what happens when you water a garden with fertilizer). It values biodiversity and natural processes. While rewilding gardens re-introduces a healthy community, rewilding the soil re-introduces a healthy ecosystem.

No More Chemicals

In order to rewild one’s garden, you must abandon use of pesticides or chemicals that would eventually poison the soil after extended use. Any fertilizer falls into this category. This is due to the fact that, although insecticides kill pests, they may also kill beneficial insects. It is important to replace these chemicals with other options in order for rewilding to work successfully.

Kitten in Rewilded Garden

Chemical-free gardens are safer for pets

You will also want to avoid using any weed killers and instead let the weeds grow alongside your plants as they would naturally. Many weeds, such as dandelions, are actually beneficial, assisting to protect the soil from erosion while also aiding in the retention of water in the earth.

Natural Control of Pests

While it was historically typical to think of insects in a garden as the kind of nuisance you wanted to get rid of as quickly as possible, research has shown that insects are frequently more useful to plants than they are harmful.

Even so-called pests may be useful to a garden’s natural equilibrium. Some  pests can be kept under control by rewilding without the need for pesticides. Other insects or animals may take advantage of the pest’s presence as a food source. Nature, when left to its own resources, has a tendency to restore it’s own equilibrium.

Another strategy for ensuring success when rewilding a garden is to include insect habitats. As an added benefit of creating an environment for helpful insects, they will automatically take care of the insects that might otherwise destroy your plants. Fallen logs, branches, or a wood stack may be used to provide shelters for these insects, many of which can be beneficial to your garden.

Reintegrating Wildlife

By rewilding your garden, you are re-establishing a healthy community by reintegrating animals back into their environment where they belong. This will allow them to find shelter and food sources, while also giving them a way to better adapt to climate change. Rewilding reintegrates these animals into the area as a part of a healthy ecosystem.

Squirrel Wildlife

In addition to this rewilding benefit, reintegrating wildlife could be useful environmentally since it may help minimize problems caused by invasive species that damage ecosystems by competing with native flora and fauna for resources. In other words, animals that naturally used to occupy an area might prove helpful in rewilding your garden by simply re-establishing the communities that once were there.

The Birds and the Bees

Allowing bumblebees to re-hatch and re-establish the bee population in your garden could be essential to rewilding, as bees are responsible for dispersing seeds and nectar, which helps maintain a healthy diversity of plants. Without these little creatures doing their part, many plant species would die off because they may not have been able to reproduce.

A Bee on a Dandelion

Rewilding also entails keeping an eye out for the food requirements of any birds that could come to visit or create a nest in your garden.

A bird bath filled with fresh water is a great way to attract birds.

Bird in Bird Bath

Bird feeders, which you can fill with bird seed, may be used to care for your feathered friends, but you can also utilize food that you consume yourself to feed them. These include goods such as apples or raisins, among other things. You may use the seeds from pumpkins or squash. Keep in mind, if the food has been produced organically, birds are likely to consume it. Aside from that, the birds will also consume hazardous insects, which may cause damage to a garden.

As rewilding takes place, it starts to re-enact the environmental changes that would have occurred if humans were not around. You may even notice bees or butterflies coming up from areas where they have not been seen in many years because rewilding has helped to bring back their habitat.

Rewilding Takes Time

Rewilding is generally not something that can be done overnight. One has to have the commitment necessary in order to rewild their garden. Rewilding requires hard work and patience because it will take time for plants and animals to fully re-establish themselves into your soil.

The Rewilded Garden

Rewilding your garden includes removing all chemicals, naturalizing plants so they do not require chemicals or fertilizer, creating an environment for insects, wildlife, and birds, and re-introducing native plants. Rewilding re-introduces important genes into the ecosystem, re-introduces natural control processes, re-introduces habitat for animals, re-introduces food sources for animals, and re-enacts the changes that would have occurred if humans were not around.

This rewilding of your garden can come with many benefits that go beyond what you initially expect; rewilding offers an opportunity for people to connect more with nature, reducing stress levels and increasing overall happiness levels, along with many others which are hard to predict.

Rewilding your garden does require some up front effort but gives back so much more than expected in the long run!

Rewilding the Garden

Image source and for more on rewilding, visit GardeningEtc.com

Thanksgiving In The Garden

Absolutely love this! If you live in a warmer climate, such as California or Florida, why not hold your Thanksgiving dinner outside? You could enjoy the cool fall air and the beautiful autumn leaves.

Thanksgiving in the Garden

In this Beer Garden Table Makeover and Alfresco Thanksgiving project, they first refinished an old beer table. Once that was finished, the table was decorated with a vase of autumn leaves, 2 pumpkins, and the rest you see in the picture. This can be great family activity everyone will enjoy. Very Thankgiving-ish looking and a great place for outdoor enthusiasts to dine.

Beautiful Fall Leaves

Leaves get their green color from chlorophyll, contained in cells within the leaves. Chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis, it captures sunlight to produce plant sugars. As days grow shorter and temperatures cool in the fall, trees stop producing chlorophyll, some earlier than others. Fall Leaves

Without chlorophyll to capture sunlight, other pigments contained in the cells of leaves become more visible. These other pigments are called accessory pigments, they include carotenoids and anthocyanins.

Carotenoids

Carotenoids absorb blue and violet light and reflect yellow and green wavelengths, which is why they appear yellow to the human eye.

Fall Tree

Anthocyanins

Anthocyanins absorb blue and green light and reflect red wavelengths, which is why they appear red to the human eye. These accessory pigments are present in leaves all year long and some accumulate higher than others in the fall. Fall Trees at the Park

Why Are The Trees More Colorful Some Years?

The amount of sunlight and temperature conditions determine if trees will turn more colorful in the fall. Trees that grow at higher elevations or towards the poles may turn red and yellow earlier than those growing closer to the equator, which is why we see some trees with brilliant colors while others nearby are still green.

Beautiful Fall Leaves

Also, years with abundant rainfall will produce more colorful fall leaves, while dryer, or even drought conditions will cause trees to skip their brilliant color phase in the fall.

Halloween Painted Rocks

Helen Emmence makes her own Halloween painted rocks. You can buy the cement and silicon molds on amazon. These would be so cute for Halloween, or even just for fall, placed along your walks, or in your flower beds. I don’t think I would need this many of them. Even a few would help dress up your yard.

Halloween Rocks

Image Source: Facebook

 

Painted a bright orange.

Orange Rocks

Image Source: Facebook

Taken out of the molds, before Painting

Rocks Before Painting

Image Source: Facebook